Moses Lake man sentenced in vehicle arson case

Jul. 19—SPOKANE — David Alexander Maybee, 25, of Moses Lake was sentenced after pleading guilty to Malicious Destruction of Property by Fire. U.S. District Court Judge Thomas O. Rice handed down a sentence of 60 months imprisonment with an additional three years of supervised release.

The incident associated with the case happened on January 21, 2022, when Maybee and three other unidentified individuals drove to Motel 6 in Moses Lake. The driver parked near another vehicle and Maybee and another suspect got out of the vehicle, poured gasoline from a water bottle onto an Audi in the motel parking lot and lit the fuel. Maybee acted as a lookout in the incident. The pair then ran back to the vehicle they arrived in and left the scene, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Washington.

Moses Lake Fire Department and Moses Lake Police Department units responded quickly and were able to ensure the fire was extinguished and begin an investigation. Video indicates people on the scene at the time used a fire extinguisher to fight the fire while MLFD and MLPD were en route.

Maybee has additional criminal history including a conviction for robbing a Carl's Jr. and burglarizing a home in early 2022.

Rice noted during the most recent sentencing for the arson that Maybee's overall criminal history was "atrocious." Many of Maybee's crimes are associated with addiction and drug debts.

"This case starkly demonstrates the dangerous nexus between illicit drugs and violence. Mr. Maybee participated in an arson to settle a drug debt that placed our first responders and entire community at risk," stated U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref. "I am grateful for our strong partnerships with local, state, and federal law enforcement who protect our neighborhoods and work so effectively with our office to hold accountable individuals who are the largest drivers of violent crime."

MLPD and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms investigated the case and it was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin Baunsgard.

ATF Seattle Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais said he felt the sentencing was appropriate given the crime and criminal past Maybee's record reflects.

"While Mr. Maybee didn't actually light the fire his part in this crime was still extremely troubling," said Blais. "Taken as a whole, the dangers posed by his and his accomplice's actions clearly warrant this sentence."